Sprinkler head



E. V- ALVAREZ SPRINKLER HEAD Nov. 21, 1961 INVEN T0 R. VA

Filed March 24, 1959 EDWARD ifinzz By 07% AT T Rm'ya i I the 3,009,650 Patented Nov. 21, 1961 3,009,650 SPRINKLER IPEAD Edward V. Alvarez, 4152 Pacific Way, Los Angeles, Calif. Filed Mar. 24, 1959, Ser. No. 801,637 4 Claims. (Cl. 239-430) This application relates to oscillating sprinkler heads, particularly those of the type in which the force of a stream of Water is employed for angularly advancing the nozzle from which the stream of water issues.

An object of the invention is to provide improved sprinkler heads and nozzle advancing mechanism to render the construction cheaper and more compact and the apparatus more durable.

Another object of the invention is to provide adjustment of the angular rate of sprinkler advance. A more specific object of the invention is to provide means for adjusting the spring tension to vary the torque applied to an impeller alternately deflected by a stream of water and striking the nozzle unit under spring force for advancing the angular position of the nozzle to compensate for variations in water pressure at the sprinkler.

Still another object of the invention is to provide angular advance-adjusting mechanism of great simplicity, ease of construction and ease of operation and durability.

A further object is to provide a design such that the parts may be molded from a synthetic resin or plastic.

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds.

In carrying out the invention in accordance with the preferred form thereof, a nozzle unit is utilized which is composed of non-corroding, durable, organic plastic material rotatable about a vertical axis and carrying a yoke which provides coaxial support for an oscillating impeller member journaled between said yoke and the remainder of the nozzle unit. Secured in the yoke also is an angularly-adjustable mounting for a spring secured at one end to the mounting and at the other end to the impeller member, so that the spring force may be varied by adjustment of the angular position of the spring mounting. The spring mounting, a locking screw therefor, and the oscillating impeller are also all composed of non-corroding, organic plastic material.

A better understanding of the invention will be afforded by the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation view, partially in section, of a sprinkler head constituting an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the median plane 2-2.

FIG. 3 is a slightly enlarged fragmentary exploded view, partially in section, of the apparatus of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary section and inverted plan view of the portion of the yoke of FIG. 1, as seen looking upward in the direction of the arrows 44 indicated in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a plan view on line 5-5 of the adjustable spring mounting for the apparatus of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a plan view of the adjusting spring employed in the apparatus of FIGS. 1 and 3.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary section of the spring of FIG. 3 attached to the impeller unit, represented as cut by a plane 7-7.

Like reference characters are utilized throughout the drawing to designate like parts. a

I As shown in the drawings, there is a nozzle unit 11 rotatably mounted in a stationary pipe fitting 12 of the sleeve type, having a pipe thread 13 designed to be secured in the upper end of an internally threaded coupling,

impeller cut by a pipe-fitting or the like at the top of a vertical water supply pipe, not shown. For rotatably supporting the sprinkler or nozzle unit 11 in the fitting 12 and providing access of sprinkling water thereto, a tubular member 14 is provided having a collar 15 adapted to bear against a gasket 16 which in turn bears against the lower edge of the pipe-threaded portion 13 of the fitting 12 to permit the tube 14 to rotate within the fitting 12 without leakage of water at the gasketed joint. 7

The upper end of the tubular member 14 is externally threaded, as shown at 17 in order to be received in an internal thread 18 of the nozzle unit 11. The threads 17 and 18 are tapered pipe threads so that a fixed connection between the tube 14 and the nozzle unit 11 may be made. If desired, notches 19 may be cut in the lower surface of the tube collar 15 to facilitate tightening the joint between the tubular member 14 and the nozzle unit 11 by a suitable tool. For maintaining a tight fit at the joint provided between the surfaces of the stationary fitting 12 and gasket 16 with sufficient friction to permit the nozzle unit 11 to rotate but provide some resistance to rotation, a compression spring 21 may be provided having ends bearing between shoulders 22 and 23 of the nozzle unit 11 and the stationary fitting 12 respectively.

As shown in FIG. 3, the nozzle unit 11 has an internal bore 24 communicating with a bore 25 in a lateral branch 27 internally threaded to receive a conventional nozzle plug 28, having a small bore 29 for producing a highspeed jet of water.

The nozzle unit 11 is formed with a yoke 31 having straddling legs 32 and 33 integral with the side surface of the nozzle unit 11 and the lateral branch 27 respectively, and having a top or bridge portion 34. As shown more clearly in FIG. 4, the top or bridge portion 34 of the yoke 31, is circular and has a circular opening 35 therein. It will be observed that in the fragmentary exploded view of FIG. 3, the legs 32 and 33 of the yoke 31 have been broken away and the bridge portion 34 of the yoke has been separated from the portion of the nozzle unit 11 having bores 24 and 25 in order to illustrate more clearly the parts mounted within the yoke 31.

There is an oscillating impeller unit 36 journaled coaxially with the nozzle unit 11 within the yoke 31, having a hub 37. The journal for thehub 37 comprises a metal pivot pin 38 extending at its upper end through the opening 35 in the bridge portion 34 of the yoke 31, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, and supported at the lower end or foot in a socket .41 formed in the nozzle unit 11, as illustrated in FIG. 3. It will be understood that the water passageway or bore 24 of the nozzle unit 11'is closed at the upper end so that it communicates onlywith the lateral passageway 25 and there is no communication with the journal-receiving socket 41.

Extending diagonally outward and upward from the hub 37 of the impeller unit 36, is an impeller arm 42 and a'counter balance arm 43, having a thickened terminal portion 44 to serve as a weight or counter balance. Extending downward from the impeller arm 42 is a stream directing vane 45 havingon one side a sloping surface 46 against which a stream of water issuing from the nozzle port 29 is directed when the impeller arm is in a position illustrated in FIG. 1 with arms 42 and 43 resting'against yoke legs 32 and 33. Beyond an opening or window space 47, there is a reaction vane 48 having an inner surface 49 which curves back toward'the end thereof as illustrated at 51 in'F'IG. 2. Impeller unit 36 is so mounted that it is free to rotatecounter-clockwise, as. viewed from above, from the position of FIG. 1.- A nylon washer39 ispreferably interposed between it and they top of the nozzle unit 11 on which it rests. The arrangea ment is such that the reaction of a stream of water directed radially along the surface 46 into the reactionvane 48 and against the backward-curving surface 51 rotates the impeller unit in the direction of the arrow 52 of FIG. 2. In order to resist this motion and return the impeller unit to the position illustrated, spring 53 is pro vided, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

An adjustable mounting and lateral support for the spring 53, which is preferably in the form of a coil or helical spring 53, is provided in the form of a cup-shaped housing 54, having a depending cylindrical wall portion 55 and an upper, substantially circular base portion 56. The base portion 56 is provided with a downwardly or inwardly extending cylindrical hub 57 serving to locate the upper end of the spring 53 and also providing additional strength for screw-threads 58 formed in a central opening 59. As shown in FIG. 6, a loop 61 is formed in the upper end of the spring 53 and an inwardly extending pin 62 is pressed into the base portion 56 of the spring housing 54 for engaging the loop 61 and securing the upper end of the spring to the housing 54.

The housing or spring mounting 54, however, is rotatable about the axis of pin 38; and it may be locked in selected adjusted positions by contact with the under surface 63 of the bridge portion 34 of the yoke 31. For this purpose, a locking screw 64 is provided composed of molded organic plastic material having a knob 65, preferably knurled, of about the same diameter as the outer surface of the spring mounting 54. Knob 65 has an ex ternally-threaded stem 66. Pin 38 is fastened to the knob and threaded stem 66 in any suitable way and the knob is preferably molded onto the upper end of the pin so that formation of the threads 66 and the assembly of the knob 65 with the journal 33 are accomplished in a single operation.

The lower end 67 of the helical spring 53 is passed through openings 8 and 69 provided in the arms 42 and 43 of the impeller member 46 to secure the lower end of the spring 53 to the impeller member. Spring 53 applies torsion thereto for restoring it to the position illustrated in FIG. 1 after it h s been deflected by the impulse effect of a stream of water issuing from the nozzle port 29. The configuration of the lower portion of the torsion spring 53 is illustrated in FIG. 7 showing the extreme end 71 of the spring wire bent in the form of a hook to secure it to the impeller arm 43.

When the spring 53 has been mounted in the mounting housing 54 and secured as shown, the mounting member or housing 54 is rotated to place spring 53 under such torsion as may be desired to provide angular restoring force or torque to the impeller unit 36.

In order to retain the spring housing 54 in the desired position, the lower surface 63 of the bridge portion 34 of the yoke 31 and the upper surface 72 of the base portion 56 of the spring mounting housing 54, are made with inter-engaging portions. Preferably grooves are formed in one surface and a tooth or projecting member is formed in, or mounted at, the other surface. As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper surface 72 of the spring mounting housing 54- is provided with a plurality of radially extending grooves 73. For engaging one of such grooves and preventing rotation of the spring mounting housing 54 when the screw 66 is tightened in the screw thread 58 of the member 54, there is a downwardly extending projection 74 extending axially beyond the under surface 63 of the bridge portion 34 of the yoke 31. In the arrangement illustrated, the projection 74 is a metal pin to resist wear and give maximum strength, but it could also be an integral portion of the bridge molded to the desired shape. Likewise more than one projection 74 may be provided. The projecting member or tooth may take the form of a metal pin 74 embedded in the bridge with the axis of pin 74 extending radially but with the side thereof extending beyond the under surface 63 so as to fit in one of the grooves 73 when the spring housing member 54 is rotated to the suitable angular position and the knob 65 is rotated to tighten its screw 66. Of course other means may be employed if desired for locking the spring housing in place.

It will be understood that when it is desired to change the tension of the torsion spring 53, this is accomplished by first loosening screw 66 sufficiently to release the spring housing from engagement with pin 7 Rotating the knob 65 to loosen the screw 66 permits the spring housing and mounting member 54 to be rotated manually to a different angular position as may be desired. The outside surfaces of the skirt 55 are preferably knurled in order to facilitate gripping the housing 54 between the fingers to turn it to the desired position giving the requisite tension of the torsion spring 53. The screw 66 is then tightened with the projection 74 resting in one of the radial grooves 73 to lock the torsion spring 53 in the position giving the desired torsion adjustment.

Since the torsion of the spring 53 determines the force with which the impeller arm 42 on the return stroke strikes the yoke arm 33 and the balance weight arm 43 strikes the yoke arm 32, the rotational adjustment of the spring mounting member 54 determines the rate at which the nozzle 23 is advanced around the vertical axis by rotation of the nozzle unit 11. Thus the time required for the stream issuing from the port 29 to make a complete 360 sweep across or around the area to be sprinkled may readily be adjusted. It will be understood that the impact of the impeller arm striking the arms of the yoke 31 may be increased by placing spring 53 under greater tension. The spring thus applies a greater torque to the impeller on the return stroke which produces a greater movement of the yoke for each advance and causes the unit to make one revolution in a shorter time.

Adjustable spring tension has important advantages to the user of the sprinkler. If the spring tension is fixed and not adjustable, it must be preset at an average value which is designed to meet a common range of operating conditions. However, situations may be encountered with such a spring in which the water pressure in the sprinkler is either too high or too low to operate the sprinkler. Either excessively high or excessively low water'pressure may fail to rotate the sprinkler. The spring can be adjusted to meet this situation and compensate for the unusual water pressure either by increasing or by decreasing the force applied by spring 53 to the nozzle carrying the unit.

This adjustability of the spring tension is of particular value in the case of portable installation for watering lawns. These usually comprise several sprinklers connected in series by a hose. When the hose is of small diameter it causes a substantial pressure drop to occur from one sprinkler to the next. In a long series of sprinklers the pressure drop at the last sprinkler may be so great that the sprinkler turns only slowly if at all. In an installation of this character, the spring tension at each sprinkler can be individually adjusted to compensate for the drop in water pressure from one sprinkler to the next whereby all the sprinklers rotate at approximately the same speed. The result is that the several areas watered by the sprinklers all receive approximately the same amount of water in the same length of time and the operation of the installation as a whole is con siderably improved.

All of the parts, with the few exceptions as noted, are designed to be molded from a synthetic resin or organic plastic of suitable character. This material is chosen since it is lightweight, non-corroding and clean to handle, and lends itself to production methods. A material of the thermosetting type is preferred. Pins 38, 62 and 74, Spring 63 and nozzle 28 are metal; but even some of these parts may be replaced by molded plastic elements.

While the invention has been described as embodied in concrete form and as operating in a specific manner in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes, it should be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since various modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. In a sprinkler head having a unit carrying a nozzle rotatable about a vertical axis, and a stream-responsive oscillating impeller member for alternately deflecting in response to the force of a stream and returning to strike the nozzle unit and rotate it by impact force to a new angular position, a yoke mounted on said nozzle unit with an opening coaxial with the vertical rotation axis thereof, and having a surface perpendicular to the said axis, a rotatable mounting member having a surface perpendicular to said axis and having a coaxial tapped hole therein such surfaces abutting each other, one surface having a projection thereon, the other surface having a plurality of grooves therein to receive said projection, a clamping screw extending through said yoke perpendicular to said surfaces into said tapped hole whereby tightening of the clamping screw retains the projection in one of said grooves for securing the mounting member, a spring having an end secured eccentrically to the mounting member and the other end secured to the impeller whereby the impeller force and angular movement of the nozzle may be set by setting the angular position of the mounting member.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the mounting member is in the form of a cup having a base, on which the surface of the mounting member is formed, and a skirt portion, and the spring is in the form of a coil spring laterally supported within the skirt portion, having one end secured to the base of the cup portion mounting member.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2, wherein radial grooves are formed on the surface of the base portion of the mounting member and a radially extending projection is 40 mounted protruding axially from the surface of the yoke.

4. In a sprinkler head having a unit carrying a nozzle rotatable about a vertical axis and having an upwardly facing socket concentric with said axis, and a streamresponsive oscillating impeller alternately deflecting in response to the force of a stream and returning to strike the nozzle unit and rotate it by impact to a new angular position, the combination comprising:

a yoke mounted on said nozzle unit and having an opening coaxial with the vertical axis of rotation;

a rotatable mounting member having a coaxial opening therein:

one member of a group consisting of the yoke and the mounting member having a surface at the opening therein lying generally in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the surface having therein a plurality of angularly spaced identations, and the other member of said group having a projection engageable with a selected one of the indentations;

a helical spring connected at one end to said mounting member and coaxial therewith and connected at the other end to the impeller;

and clamping means passing through the openings in the yoke and mounting member to clamp the yoke and mounting member together in a selected rotational position whereby the torsional force imparted by said spring to the impeller may be adjusted, said clamping means including a pivot pin located coaxially of the sprinkler head and slidably received at its lower end in the socket in the nozzle unit to provide a pivot for the impeller.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,160,121 Buckner May 30, 1939 2,625,411 Unger Jan. 13, 1953 2,869,925 Crow Jan. 20, 1959 FOREIGN PATENTS 165,330 Australia Sept. 22, 1955 208,753 Australia June 12, 1957 

